The D5100 is a high-performance D-SLR designed to stimulate your creative side and help you create still images and movies like no other.
The swing-out vari-angle monitor combines with the camera’s D-movie function to enable unique shots from any angle. Still images or movies can be shot using a special effect to add a sense of magic.
High Dynamic Range imaging lets you capture exquisitely detailed stills of high-contrast scenes.
The perfect way to capture your view of the world, this camera was made with freedom of expression in mind.
16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
7.5 cm (3-in.), 921k-dot vari-angle LCD monitor with wide viewing angle
Special Effects mode: shoot still images and movies with special effects
D-Movie: full (1080p) high-definition movie clips
16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor: delivers lifelike images with vivid colors, reduced noise and smooth tonal gradations.
High ISO (100-6400) light sensitivity - manually extendable up to 25600 using the Hi2 setting. Enables faster shutter speeds for finely detailed images with minimal noise when you shoot fast-moving subjects or take pictures in low light. Features an Auto ISO setting.
EXPEED 2 image processing engine: optimizes the camera's technologies for superior performance and maximum image quality.
7.5 cm (3-in.), 921k-dot vari-angle LCD monitor with wide viewing angle: lets you capture unique shots from any angle. Boasts a side opening mechanism that makes it easy to shoot self-portraits or use a tripod.
D-Movie – full HD (1080p) movie clips: a dedicated movie-record button right next to the shutter-release makes it easy to keep the camera steady when you switch between recording stills and movies. AF-F mode keeps everything in focus, and the camera's vari-angle monitor and Special Effects mode enable unique shots. The camera supports use of an external microphone and offers 30p, 25p and 24p frame rates.
Live View with Scene Auto Selector: makes it easy to compose images using the vari-angle LCD monitor. Scene Auto Selector will select the best mode for the scene and subject you want to capture. Boasts easily selectable AF modes, including Face Priority AF that detects and tracks faces within the frame.
Razor-sharp 11-point AutoFocus system: offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame. Four AF-area modes, including 3D-tracking AF, deliver sharp results, whether your subject is off-center, moving fast or completely unpredictable.
4 fps continuous shooting: enables you to capture fast-moving action at four frames per second.
Special Effects mode: lets you shoot distinctive still images and movies using a special effect. Offers a range of effects, including Color Sketch, Miniature effect, Night Vision and Selective Color that lets you emphasize up to three colors of your choice and turns the rest of the image to monochrome.
Scene Modes automatically adjust camera settings, including Picture Controls and active D-Lighting, to take the guesswork out of tricky photo situations and deliver optimal results. Simply turn the mode dial to SCENE to access the most commonly used modes. Sample photos appear on the display to help you select the right mode.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging: delivers exquisitely detailed shots of high-contrast scenes. Takes two shots within a single shutter release to create an image with an extremely wide dynamic range, low noise and rich color gradation.
Extensive in-camera Retouch Menu: lets you edit and enhance photos and movies in the camera. Offers a range of effects and filters including Perspective Control, Soft Focus and Color Outline, which transforms your photo into a line drawing.
Dual Integrated dust reduction system: Image Sensor Cleaning and Airflow Control systems keep dust away from the camera’s image sensor for clear, spot-free images.
HDTV compatibility: camera features a built-in HDMI connector with HDMI-CEC support so you can view your photos and movies on any HDTV and control playback features using your TV’s remote control.
Infrared front and back receiver: helps prevent image blur when shooting close-ups and self-portraits.
Stereo sound: designed specifically for D-SLRs, Nikon’s optional Stereo Microphone ME-1 lets you record movie clips in high-quality stereo sound, with no AF noise. Comes with windscreen and soft case accessories.
| Type | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount (with AF contacts) |
| Effective angle of view | Approx. 1.5 x lens focal length (Nikon DX format) |
| Effective pixels | 16.2 million |
| Image sensor | 23.6 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor |
| Total pixels | 16.9 million |
| Dust-reduction System | Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
| Image size (pixels) | 4,928 x 3,264 (L) 3,696 x 2,448 (M) 2,464 x 1,632 (S) |
| File format | NEF (RAW): 14 bit, compressed JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats |
| Picture Control System | Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls |
| Media | SD (Secure Digital), SDHC, and SDXC memory cards |
| File system | DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge |
| Viewfinder | Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder |
| Frame coverage | Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical |
| Magnification | Approx. 0.78 x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0m-1) |
| Eyepoint | 17.9 mm (-1.0m-1) |
| Diopter adjustment | -1.7-+0.7 m-1 |
| Focusing screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen |
| Reflex mirror | Quick return |
| Lens aperture | Instant return, electronically controlled |
| Compatible lenses | Autofocus is available with AF-S and AF-I lenses. Autofocus is not available with other type G and D lenses, AF lenses (IX NIKKOR and lenses for the F3AF are not supported), and AI-P lenses. Non-CPU lenses can be used in mode M, but the camera exposure meter will not function. *The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. |
| Type | Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter |
| Speed | 1/4000 - 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV; Bulb; Time (requires optional ML-L3 remote control) |
| Flash sync speed | X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower |
| Release mode | Single frame, continuous, self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response remote, quiet shutter release |
| Frame advance rate | Up to 4 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values) |
| Self-timer | 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1-9 exposures |
| Metering | TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor |
| Metering method | Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point |
| Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F) | Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0-20 EV Spot metering: 2-20 EV |
| Exposure meter coupling | CPU |
| Mode | Auto modes (auto; auto, flash off ); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M); scene modes (portrait; landscape; child; sports; close up; night portrait; night landscape; party/indoor; beach/snow; sunset; dusk/dawn; pet portrait; candlelight; blossom; autumn colors; food); special effects modes (night vision; color sketch; miniature effect; selective color; silhouette; high key; low key) |
| Exposure compensation | -5 - +5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV |
| Bracketing | Exposure bracketing: 3 frames in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV White balance bracketing: 3 frames in steps of 1 Active D-Lighting bracketing: 2 frames |
| Exposure lock | Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
| ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) | ISO 100 - 6400 in steps of 1/3 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, 1, or 2 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 6400; auto ISO sensitivity control available |
| Active D-Lighting | Auto, extra high, high, normal, low, off |
| Autofocus | Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft. 8 in.-9 ft. 10 in.) |
| Detection range | -1 - +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F) |
| Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used |
| Focus point | Can be selected from 11 focus points |
| AF-area mode | Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points) |
| Focus lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
| Built-in flash | Auto, portrait, child, close up, night portrait, party/indoor, pet portrait, color sketch: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M, food: Manual pop-up with button release |
| Guide Number | Approx. 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F) |
| Flash control | TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400 (i-TTL balanced fill-flash is available when matrix or center-weighted metering is selected) Auto aperture: Available with SB-900/SB-800 and CPU lens Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S Distance-priority manual: Available with SB-900, SB-800, and SB-700 |
| Flash mode | Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off |
| Flash compensation | -3 - +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV |
| Flash-ready indicator | Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400 is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output |
| Accessory shoe | ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock |
| Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) | Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash, or SU-800 as commander; Flash Color Information Communication supported with built-in flash and all CLS-compatible flash units |
| Sync terminal | AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately) |
| White balance | Auto, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning. |
| Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (MF) |
| AF-area mode | Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected) |
| Automatic scene selection | Available in auto and flash off modes |
| Metering | TTL exposure metering using main image sensor |
| Metering method | Matrix |
| Frame size (pixels) and frame rate | 1,920 x 1,080, 30 p/25 p/24 p, high/normal 1,280 x 720, 30 p/25 p/24 p, high/normal 640 x 424, 30 p/25 p, high/normal A frame rate of 30 p (actual frame rate 29.97 fps) is available when NTSC is selected for video mode. 25 p is available when PAL is selected for video mode. Actual frame rate when 24 p is selected is 23.976 fps. |
| File format | MOV |
| Video compression | H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding |
| Audio recording format | Linear PCM |
| Audio recording device | Built-in monaural or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable |
| Monitor | 7.5-cm/3-in., approx. 921k-dot (VGA), vari-angle low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with 170 ° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment |
| Playback | Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters) |
| USB | Hi-Speed USB |
| Video output | NTSC, PAL |
| HDMI output | Type C mini-pin HDMI connector |
| Accessory terminal | Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately) GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately) |
| Audio input | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm diameter) |
| Supported languages | Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish |
| Battery | One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL14 battery |
| AC adapter | EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5A power connector (available separately) |
| Tripod socket | 1/4 in. (ISO 1222) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx.128 x 97 x 79 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 in.) |
| Weight | Approx. 510 g/1 lb. 2 oz. (camera body only) Approx. 560 g (1 lb. 3.7 oz.) with battery and memory card but without body cap |
| Temperature | 0-40 °C (+32-104 °F) |
| Humidity | Less than 85% (no condensation) |
| Supplied accessories | EN-EL14 rechargeable Li-ion battery (with terminal cover), MH-24 battery charger, AN-DC3 strap, EG-CP14 audio/video cable, UC-E6 USB cable, DK-5 eyepiece cap, BS-1 accessory shoe cover, DK-20 rubber eyecup, BF-1B body cap, ViewNX 2 CD, User's Manual |
Strap AN-DC3
Shoulder strap from woven fabric with embroidered Nikon logo.
Body Cap BF-1B
Can be placed on the camera body when no lens is attached to protect your camera from dust and moisture.
Battery EN-EL14
Compact rechargeable lithium-Ion battery with high capacity for long operating life.
Hot shoe cover BS-1
Fits into the hot shoe of all Nikon SLR cameras and helps to keep out dust and moisture from the hot shoe.
ViewNX2
All-in-one software package. Lets you import, organize, edit and share photos and movie clips. Compatible with Nikon Transfer. Integrated with Nikon Image Space.
Battery Charger MH-24
The MH-24 is used to charge Nikon EN-EL14 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
USB Cable UC-E6
USB data cable for specific Nikon cameras. Lets you connect your camera to a computer. Approx. 1.5m in length.
Audio Video Cable EG-CP14
Audio video cable for specific Nikon cameras. Lets you connect your camera to a television or video/DVD/HD recorder.
DK-5
When using the self timer or remote release it is recommended to remove the viewfinder eyepiece cup and attach the DK-5 eyepiece cap. This will prevent light entering the viewfinder from affecting the exposure in auto exposure modes.
DK-20
Eyepiece shield made from comfortable soft rubber. Minimizes the amount of stray light that enters the viewfinder.
Body Cap BF-1B
Can be placed on the camera body when no lens is attached to protect your camera from dust and moisture.
Hot shoe cover BS-1
Fits into the hot shoe of all Nikon SLR cameras and helps to keep out dust and moisture from the hot shoe.
Speedlight SB-700
Versatile, easy-to-use i-TTL Speedlight, compatible with Nikon FX and DX format SLRs, and the Nikon Creative Lighting System. Boasts a range of advanced functions in a compact body.
DK-5
When using the self timer or remote release it is recommended to remove the viewfinder eyepiece cup and attach the DK-5 eyepiece cap. This will prevent light entering the viewfinder from affecting the exposure in auto exposure modes.
DK-20
Eyepiece shield made from comfortable soft rubber. Minimizes the amount of stray light that enters the viewfinder.
AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
35mm wide aperture lens with high-quality optics and compact dimensions designed for use with Nikon DX format cameras.
AC Adapter EH-5b
The EH-5b is an optional AC Adapter that can be used to power the camera from a wall outlet.
Battery Charger MH-24
The MH-24 is used to charge Nikon EN-EL14 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Audio Video Cable EG-CP14
Audio video cable for specific Nikon cameras. Lets you connect your camera to a television or video/DVD/HD recorder.
Strap AN-DC3
Shoulder strap from woven fabric with embroidered Nikon logo.
ME-1 Microphone
Dedicated stereo microphone designed to expand the sound recording capabilities of compatible Nikon cameras.
Battery EN-EL14
Compact rechargeable lithium-Ion battery with high capacity for long operating life.
USB Cable UC-E6
USB data cable for specific Nikon cameras. Lets you connect your camera to a computer. Approx. 1.5m in length.
Lens Case CL-0915
GPS UNit GP-1
Global Positioning System, attaches to specific Nikon cameras and records the exact location of the camera when a picture is taken.
AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR
Compact and lightweight DX format Macro lens with 1:1 reproduction ratio, Vibration Reduction II and smooth, accurate autofocus.
